County picks crisis provider, mulls options

FAYETTEVILLE — The Washington County Quorum Court announced during Thursday’s meeting Ozark Guidance will be the provider for the new Crisis Stabilization Unit.

County officials recently finished a preliminary drawing for how to turn the Judicial Annex Building into a 16-bed facility to house people in a mental health crisis, but more square footage is needed, said Laura Tyler, chief executive officer for the nonprofit community mental health center.

Ozark Guidance is reviewing plans with county officials on space needs, Tyler said.

As part of efforts to reduce the inmate population, County Judge Joseph Wood said he intends to renovate the first floor of the Judicial annex at 123 N. College Ave. for the unit. The plan means moving Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor’s courtroom, which is in the annex, to the fifth floor of the courthouse at 280 N. College Ave.

The state-funded unit is meant for people who are in a mental health crisis and divert them from jails. The Washington County Detention Center has been crowded with people sleeping on the floor and justices of the peace are considering expanding the center. The state approved funding for four stabilization units last year.

Washington County’s Crisis Stabilization Unit will be about 5,095 square feet, County Attorney Brian Lester said.

“All design standards and rules are set by the state and federal government regarding institutions such as this — we are just following their guidelines,” he said.

The exact costs of the renovation has yet to be determined, but the county is working to secure private

money for the project and will use the state money for operational expenses, Lester said. Justice of the Peace Joel Maxwell suggested in Thursday’s meeting it could cost upwards of $1 million.

Maxwell said the unit will not only ensure those who qualify receive better treatment, but it will also relieve some stress from law enforcement and free county resources and jail space.

The county’s goal is to open the facility in October, Lester said. Mental health advocates are worried about how long the process is taking, members said during a recent Judicial Equality for Mental Illness meeting.

“We know that the timeline for opening by the end of October is aggressive, but we are committed to that time and are on track,” Lester said. “We know that this CSU will be a benefit to the entire catchment area and look forward to the positive impact it will have for our region.”

Not all of that room is expected to become bedrooms. Chief of Staff Carl Gales told justices of the peace during a committee meeting the annex courtroom would be preserved and used as a meeting area.

Tyler said she didn’t want to give a number for how much space is needed for the facility. Wood has toured other units that have opened as part of the planning process, Tyler said.

“It’s a long process, but this is new to the counties, and it’s a new thing for the state,” Tyler said. “I think it just takes more time when things are new.”

State Department of Human Services and Division of Behavioral Health Services officials toured the annex building earlier this month, Lester said. A spokeswoman for the department said there are no reports or email from that inspection.

Lester said officials looked at the space and the preliminary design and loved it.

“They think it will be the best CSU in the state, to which we obviously agree,” he said.

Sebastian and Pulaski counties have opened their units in March and July respectively. Both units have 16 beds and are around 4,000 square feet. They are organized a little differently with Pulaski having separate rooms and Sebastian having pods designed for six people to stay in, said Joey Potts, director of Sebastian County Crisis Stabilization Unit.

Units in Washington and Craighead counties have lagged.

“We are far and away behind, as are some of the other CSUs,” Maxwell said in Thursday’s meeting.

The county had nine contractors willing to sign on for building projects, which would include the crisis unit, and three met the qualifications, Maxwell said.

An emergency ordinance was voted was approved 103 by the Quorum Court to authorize the county to do business with John Rausch and Buddy Coleman Strategic Realty/Rausch Coleman.

John Rausch is the son of Justice of the Peace Fred Rausch and Buddy Coleman is the father-in-law of Fred Rausch.

Some of the justices of the peace took issue with the approval because they didn’t want it to appear as if they were showing favoritism and there wasn’t enough evidence pointing to why this was an “unusual circumstance,” they said.

Others argued Fred Rausch didn’t stand to profit in any way and it had been determined the contractor was one of the most qualified.

Ashton Eley can be reached by email at aeley@nwadg.com or Twitter @NWAAshton.